Hill Dwarf

Appearance

These dwarves are the most numerous of the Dwarven subspecies, with small yet hardy bodies and the willpower of an ancient boulder.

Naming Convention

Hill Dwarves tend to have simple names such as Thori or Dendo.

Biology

They are shorter than their mountain dwarf cousins, standing between 3 and 4 feet tall with wide bodies and strong, leathery skin. They typically have large beards that can grow extremely fast when their bellies are full and their livers are damaged. Hill Dwarves typically live to around a hundred and fifty years old.

Geography

Their main population lies in the fields of the Starlight Basin, tending farms and aiding in the construction of their great mines and stone halls. Many hill dwarves have spread across Erendia to take their craft to the other folk of the world.

Mountain Dwarf

Appearance

These dwarves are larger than their cousins but only due to their genetic heritage. They are the builders of great cities and can weather any storm with enough preparation.

Naming Convention

Mountain Dwarves use nordic names such as Hafgar or Bjorn.

Biology

They stand between 3 and 5 feet tall, with broad shoulders and slightly better proportions than their cousins. They typically have longer hair but shorter beards than the Hill Dwarves, and they have slightly elongated lifespans reaching up to 200 years.

Geography

Mountain Dwarves live in their great cities built into the sides of mountains, mostly in the Starlight Basin, but also in a stronghold in the Valley of Colors, which has long since frayed the nerves of their elven neighbors. Some mountain dwarves have spread across Erendia as well, bringing the highest levels of craftsmanship to other societies.

Underdwarf (Gully Dwarf)

Appearance

Gully Dwarves are the runts of the litter, so to speak. They're not particularly well-liked by any other dwarves and are generally regarded as lesser beings due to their diminuitive 2 to 3 feet in height and their inability to master basic craftsmanship. They still have some use, though, as farmhands and mundane workers don't really need to know much common or be able to think for themselves.

Naming Convention

Gully Dwarves generally have names that are similar to hill dwarf names but there are also a few that just have a syllable like 'Ja' or 'Ho'.

Biology

They're dwarves genetically, but they are far shorter and generally not as imposing as their cousins. They average between two and three feet, with uncharacteristically pointed ears for dwarves and their heads seem to be a little too large for their shoulders. They possess a similar strength to their cousins, but lack a lot of the sophistication of the rest of dwarven culture.

Geography

Typically they keep to small groups when left alone, as they have an issue with power structure and none of them seem capable of establishing command over anything. Due to this a lot of gully dwarves live as part of dwarven society but are treated as a lower caste.